Newcastle vs. Chelsea

[Gem]

We'll continue to do what we've been doing all season - focusing on our results and taking it one game at a time.

Not sure if Jose will rotate due to the Liverplod game... I'm sure Essien will start as he's suspended for the CL, and I can see Wayne continuing at LB (although A.Cole will probably get it back against Liverpool). Sheva is apparantly back... But do we risk his tiredness before a big game in his so called competition?

But this isn't about the CL... This is the Premiership.

Come on the Chels!

[loz]

Tough to call the team for this. I can't see Jose resting players after utd's result today and I think we will see Joe back into the first team and maybe Mikel picked ahead of Maka with Essien at right back to accommodate Lamps and Ballack in the centre.

So for me

.........................Cech...........................

Essien...........JT........Carvalho........Bridge

..........................Mikel...........................

.............Ballack...........Lamps.................

...............................................Joe........

.......Sheva...........................................

...........................Drogs

[Plavi26]

We should go with the same squad as the last game, but like it was said, maybe switch Mikel and Essien's positioning. Man I won't tonight! Btw does anyone know if the game is on any of the north american sport channels?

GO BLUES!!!!!!!

[Maksimov]

The ideal situation would be to have scored a few goals before the hour mark, so we could rest some of the players a little. Not sure if we will be able to do that, but it'd be great, because the players need all the rest they can get, especially with Liverpool getting an extra day of rest between their league match and our UCL match.

But first we need to make sure we get the three points against Newcastle...

COME ON CHELSEA!

[The Moos]

I must say something. Drogba and another player (can't remember who at the moment) are one yellow card away from suspension and I think we need to be a bit tactical now.

We have 4 games left after this: Bolton, Arsenal, ManU, Everton.

I doubt Drogba will go four games without a single yellow card so we really need to be careful about what game he might miss. I think we really, really need him against both Arsenal and ManU. Bolton can be a tough game but I'd rather see him miss that one than the two after that.

Do you think Mourinho think like that? I think he did it once last season (or the season before that) and since it's such a close race now and we face tough opponents I hope JM thinks about this situation.

Newcastle is an okay team and it probably wont be an easy win. I hope we get the three points without having to waste too much energy. Would be nice with 2 early goals and a yellow card for Drogba

[Scott]

Tough to call the team for this. I can't see Jose resting players after utd's result today and I think we will see Joe back into the first team and maybe Mikel picked ahead of Maka with Essien at right back to accommodate Lamps and Ballack in the centre.

So for me

.........................Cech...........................

Essien...........JT........Carvalho........Bridge

..........................Mikel...........................

.............Ballack...........Lamps.................

...............................................Joe........

.......Sheva...........................................

...........................Drogs

Here's a slight variation:

.........................Cech...........................

Diarra...........JT........Carvalho........Bridge

..........................Mikel...........................

.............Essien...........Lamps.................

...............................................Joe........

.......Sheva...........................................

...........................Drogs

[dozza]

Btw does anyone know if the game is on any of the north american sport channels?

It's only on Setanta...08:25ET. Which means 05:25PT where I am and none of the local bars will be open...so i'll be watching on Sopcast, I guess.

[Maksimov]

Newcastle is an okay team and it probably wont be an easy win. I hope we get the three points without having to waste too much energy. Would be nice with 2 early goals and a yellow card for Drogba

Well, the easiest solution would be for Drogba to score a goal and take off his shirt to celebrate it...should be a guaranteed yellow card. If not, just repeat the procedure as many times as it takes to get that one yellow card(goal + celebration). Just as long as he doesn't do a Poll and forget how many yellow cards have been showed.

[Gem]

Maybe if we tape up his mouth it'll be all right.

Mak, you in the chat tomorrow?

[Maksimov]

Mak, you in the chat tomorrow?

Probably, so mind the language!

[The Moos]

Newcastle is an okay team and it probably wont be an easy win. I hope we get the three points without having to waste too much energy. Would be nice with 2 early goals and a yellow card for Drogba

Well, the easiest solution would be for Drogba to score a goal and take off his shirt to celebrate it...should be a guaranteed yellow card. If not, just repeat the procedure as many times as it takes to get that one yellow card(goal + celebration). Just as long as he doesn't do a Poll and forget how many yellow cards have been showed.

Good idea. Or else he can do what he always does; talk too much

[abramovich]

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ozboy]

Well I will be on a plane to Singapore when this match is on, so come on CHELSEA.

However its all a big worry now. There is such a tough match against Lpool and every team we play is in the top 7 from here to the end. Frankly the odds are against us but since we are mighty, we are Chelsea its possible.

[View With A View]

Cech - splendid saves

Terry - Mr Dependable

Carvalho - Hero of Chelsea

Bridge - Great in going forward

Diarra - Coming to age

Essien - Holding role

Lamps - On his way to scoring his best goal record of a season

Cole - Comeback Kid

Mikel - Growing into the Game

Drogs - a little fatigue

SWP - The saga continues

[singablue]

How could it be beneficial to Chelsea for Drogba to get a yellow card? Pl enlighten me.

Well, the easiest solution would be for Drogba to score a goal and take off his shirt to celebrate it...should be a guaranteed yellow card. If not, just repeat the procedure as many times as it takes to get that one yellow card(goal + celebration). Just as long as he doesn't do a Poll and forget how many yellow cards have been showed.

Good idea. Or else he can do what he always does; talk too much

[loz]

I must say something. Drogba and another player (can't remember who at the moment) are one yellow card away from suspension and I think we need to be a bit tactical now.

Where did you see this Moos - remember we are into the period of the season where the rules change and I think you have to be on something riduclous like 15 yellows befor you get a suspension. Does your info relate to this situation or the situation before we moved into this period?

[singablue]

I predict 2-0 win for us, scorers Lampard/Drogba.

Cech

Essien Carva Terry Bridge

Maka Lamp Ballack

J Cole Drog SWP

[undertow]

Newcastle is an okay team and it probably wont be an easy win. I hope we get the three points without having to waste too much energy. Would be nice with 2 early goals and a yellow card for Drogba

Well, the easiest solution would be for Drogba to score a goal and take off his shirt to celebrate it...should be a guaranteed yellow card. If not, just repeat the procedure as many times as it takes to get that one yellow card(goal + celebration). Just as long as he doesn't do a Poll and forget how many yellow cards have been showed.

drogba already has 10 domestic yellow cards. i don't see the point in getting an 11th ;)

[Lofty]

Shame Michael Owen isn't playing. I'm sure he would have lasted at least 5 minuutes.

[Gem]

Says on the Beeb that Newcastle are without Shay Given, that would be a big boost if true.

[Lofty]

Says on the Beeb that Newcastle are without Shay Given, that would be a big boost if true.

Looks like it's true. From BBC football:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 555257.stm

Shay Given is still nursing a groin problem, but Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker and Antoine Sibierski could all return.

Chelsea have no new injury worries with Arjen Robben still short of a return after suffering knee ligament damage.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko is set to figure having shaken off the minor leg injury that kept him out in midweek.

Newcastle (from): Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Ramage, Butt, Parker, Milner, Emre, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Obi, Makelele, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Shevchenko, J Cole, Kalou.

[Gem]

sh*t sh*t sh*t. According to the official site, Jose has decided to REST Carvalho and play ESSIEN at CB along JT

4-4-2 diamond:

1 Petr Cech

20 Paulo Ferreira

5 Michael Essien

26 John Terry ©

18 Wayne Bridge

4 Claude Makelele

24 Shaun Wright-Phillips

8 Frank Lampard

13 Michael Ballack

21 Salomon Kalou

11 Didier Drogba

Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 13 Khalid Boulahrouz, 12 Mikel John Obi, 10 Joe Cole, 7 Andriy Shevchenko.

--

No Scott Parker for Newcastle too, which is good.

[bjd]

Hope Riccy has just been rested and isnt injured.

[Jimbo]

No Carvalho.

The team today is

Cech

Ferreira

Terry

Essien

Bridge

Maka

Ballack

Lampard

SWP

Kalou

Drogbacite

We'll win this 1-0 by the way.

[Gem]

The site says he's rested... They normally say if a players taken a knock or something, so I'd be inclined to believe them.